Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-04-06
ARISTOCRATIC NAMES.
The Recognized Pronunciation of Some
We1l-Known English Surnames.

The Recognized Pronunciation of Some
Well-Known English Surnames.
Photographers complain that scarce
ly one English word in thousand is
spelled correctly that is, all its letters
are not sounded precisely as they are in
the alphabet. And such criticism is
perfectly just, although, from the force
of habit, we seldom notice the faulty
photography of common words. But if
we meet proper names, of persons or
places, their eccentric spelling is more
observable, and sometimes even puz-
zling. Highly educated persons often
hesitate in pronouncing a proper name
which they see for the first time. This
remark especially applies to some aris-
tocratic surnames, as will be seen by
the subjoined, with their recognized
pronunciation:
Clanranald must be sounded as it
written Clanronald. Derby, in speaking
either of the peer, the town or the race,
should always be called Darby. Dillwyn
is pronounced Dillon, with the accent on
tina first syllable. In Blyth the tb is
dropped, and the word becomes Bly,.
Lyveden is pronounced as Livden, and
Pepys as Pipis, with the accent on the
first syllable. In Monson and Ponsonby
the first o becomes short u, and they are
called Munson, Punsonby. In Blount
the is silent, and the word is spoken
as blunt. Brougham, whether referring
to the late illustrious statesman or the
vehicle named after him, should not be
pronounced as two syllables -Brawham
or Brooham-but as one-Broom. Col
quhoun, Duchesne, Majoribanks and
Cholmondely-four formidable names
to the unitiated-must be called Cohoon,
Dukarn, Marshbanks and Chumley!
Cholmeley is also pronounced Chumley.
Mainwaring and Mcleod must be pro-
nounced Mannering and Macloud. The
final in Molyneux and Vaux is
sounded, but the final in Devereux
and Des Vaux is mute. In Ker the 6
becomes short a, and the word is called
Kar; it would be awfully bad form to
pronounce it Cur! In Waldegrave the
de is dropped, and it becomes Walgrave,
with the accent on the first syllable.
Berkeley, whether referring to the per-
son or place, should be pronounced
Barkley. Buchan is pronounced Bukan;
Beauclerk, OF Beauclark, as Beauclare,
with the accent on the first syllable, and
Beauvoir as Beevor. Wemyss is pro-
nounced as Weems, and Willoughby
D'Eresby as Willowby D'Ersby; St. John
must be pronounced Sinjan as a sur
name or Christian name; when applied
to a locality or a building it is pro
nounced as spelled, Saint John. Mont
gomery OF Montgomerie, is pronounced
Montgomery, with the accent on the
second syllable. In Elgin g takes the
hard sound it has in give; in Clifford and
Giffard it takes the soft sound, as in gin
as it also does in Nigel. In Conyng-
ham the becomes short u, and the
name is called Cunningham. In John
stone the is silent. Strachan should
be pronounced Strawn; Heathcate,
Hethkut, and Hertford, Hartford. The
az is dropped in Abergavenny, which is
called Abergenny; ard the 70 in Penrith,
which is called PERTH. Beauchamp
must be pronounced Beecham; Bourne,
Burn, and Bourke, Burk. Cover, as
street, is pronounced as it is written,
but as surname it becomes Cor. Eyre
should be pronounced Air; and Du Plat
is called Du Plah Jervis should be
pronounced Jarvis; Knollys as if writ
ten Knowls; Menz;es as if written
Mynjes, and Mcnamara must be pro
nounced Macnamarab, with the accent
on the third syllable. Sandys should be
spoken as one syllable-Sands; st. Clark
is also one word.-Losdon World